Fabric mending device



Dec. 19, 1944. c, PATASNIK 2,365,432

FABRIC MENDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1942 Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,365,432 FABRIC MENDING DEVICE Charles Patasnik, Chicago, 111. Application January 26, 1942, Serial No. 428,220

Claims.

This invention relates to fabric mending device. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a device which may be used to facilitate the mending or patching of fabric, particularly the placing of patches in articles of wearing apparels, such as stockings, the sleeves of fabric blouses, and the like.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention articles of wearing apparel, such as stockings and the like, are mended by placing a patch onto the stocking over the hole therein and causing the patch to adhere to the stocking. This may be done by using a patch of cloth material one surface of which has been coated with a thermoplastic substance which becomes soft at the temperatures normally obtainable with an ordinary flat iron. The patch is placed on the article to be mended, with the plastic coated side of the patch in contact with the article and then a heated flat iron is brought into pressure contact with the patch to cause the thermoplastic coating to flow and firmly unite the patch with the cloth of the article. In the case of a stocking where the patch is to mend a hole, it is necessary to place something into the stocking to prevent the thermoplastic material to pass through the hole in the stocking to the opposite side thereof as this would adhere the two sides of the stocking together. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved tool or device for accomplishing this purpose. The tool or device of the present invention omprises a paddle of stiff material such as, for instance, wood, shaped to facilitate insertion into a stocking and to facilitate gripping of the paddle after it has been inserted into a stocking, to hold the stocking taut on the paddle. At the forward end of the paddle there is placed a knob, preferably also of wood, which constitutes a working surface for the device. The top surface of the knob is flat and it is this surface that constitutes the working surface. In addition the side surfaces of the knob are tapered, preferably curved, to permit use of the knob over pieces of cloth that should not be straightened at the time the patch is being adhered to the fabric being mended.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing form ing apart thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a paddle embodying the present invention;

to the drawing wherein like reference numerals 'of reduced width and a stretching a stocking over Figure 2 is a perspective view of the paddle;

Figure 3 is a front view of the coated side of a patch;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the reverse side of the patch;

Figure 5 is a patch; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the paddle and illustrating the manner of use of the same. Referencemay now be had more particularly transverse sectional view of the indicate like parts throughout.

The device of the present invention comprises a paddle I having a hand gripping portion 2 knob 3 at the forward widened end thereof. The edges of the paddle are smooth throughout, and the forward portion of the paddle at 5 is considerably wider than the knob. This is for the purpose of facilitating the paddle so that the portion thereof to be mended lies over the flat top of the knob 3. The sides 6 of the knob are smooth and preferably taper towards the top and join the top along a smooth curve 1. The

' knob may be secured to the paddle I in any desired manner as, for instance, by two short nails 8-8. A small groove 9 is formed around the periphery of the knob 3 between the edge of the knob and the paddle I for a purpose to be presently described.

The patch for mending a hole in a stocking consists of a piece of cotton or other cloth, illustrated at Hi, the back side of which is coated with a thermoplastic material l I. Figure 5 shows the layer of cloth with the coating layer ll of much exaggerated thickness for illustrative purposes, it being understood that the plastic layer is exceedingly thin, beingonly a thick coat of plastic paint. Cloth patches such as I!) are made up in various sizes and colors to constitute a patch package from which a patch of a suitable size and color is selected.

Figure 6 shows the manner of use of the tool of the present invention. In this figure l5 indicates the top of an ordinary ironing board such as is used in hand laundries and in homes. The paddle I is inserted into a stocking [5 so that the top surface of the knob 3 thereof is at the hole l8 in the stocking. The stocking is then drawn taut to maintain the portion of the stocking on the top of the knob 1 straight and free of wrinkles. The operator can then easily hold the stocking around the paddle at the hand gripping portion 2 to maintain the stocking taut. A patch lflis then placed on the stocking with the coated side ll thereof in contact with the stocking to overlie the hole 98 therein. An ordinary domestic flat iron 2! heated to the usual pressing temperature is then brought down on the paddle, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6, and held in place a few moments. The heat of the iron softens the plastic material II and causes the patch to adhere firmly and permanently to the fabric of the stocking.

It is to be noted that the paddle I is of appreciably greater width adjacent to but spaced from the knob 3 than it is at the knob. This facilitates stretching of a stocking into which the device has been inserted. It is also to be noted that the knob 3 is of appreciable height. This not only facilitates stretching of a stocking over the knob, and elimination of any folds or wrinkles that might otherwise form in the stocking over the top surface of the knob. but also has another function. By reason of the height of the knob it is possible for the operator to insert his finger between the base of the paddle and the base of the fiat iron resting on the knob without touching the flat iron, should that be necessary in order to hold a portion of the stocking in proper place across the top of the knob.

If it is desired to hold the stretched stocking on the knob 3 for any length of time for purposes other than adhering a. patch in place and if it is desired that both hands be free while the stocking is held in place, the end of the stocking may be brought around the entire periphery of the block 3 and secured in place by inserting a split spring metal ring over the block 3 and into the peripheral groove 9.

In compliance with patent statues I have here preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention.

What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fabric mending device comprising a padshown and described a the requirements of they dle structure having a flat wide base adapted to be laid fiaton a supporting surface including a hand gripping portion and a flat top knob projecting only upwardly from the base at an end thereof opposite the hand gripping portion, the base being of a. width in excess of the maximum dimension of the knob and the entire device being smooth and free of sharp projecting corners.

2. A fabric mending device comprising a paddle structure having a fiat base adapted to be laid on a flat supporting surface and including a hand gripping portion and a fiat topped projecting knob at an end thereof opposite the hand-- gripping portion, said projecting knob being of a circular cross section and having a taper from the base towards the flat top portion, the periph-' eral wall of the knob merging with the fiat top along a smooth curve, and a peripheral groove formed in the projecting knob above the base for receiving a, holding ring.

3. A fabric mending device comprising a paddle structure having a fiat base including a hand gripping portion, said base having a knob secured to the base opposite the hand gripping portion and projecting only upwardly from the base, said projecting knob having a fiat top at a height above the base more than sufiicient for insertion of a finger'between the base and a flat iron resting on the flat top of the knob, said paddle being of a size to permit insertion into a stocking so that the stocking can be drawn taut around the knob and held taut by gripping the hand gripping portion with the stocking therearound, whereby the 'base may be held on an ironing board while a. pressing operation is performed on the portion of the stocking held taut on the fiat surface of the knob, the base being of a width in excess of the maximum dimension of the knob to maintain the device against tilting while on an ironing board during the pressing operation.

.4. A fabric mending device for facilitating the operation of adhering a. plastic coated patch to a fabric garment by hot pressing the patch to the fabric, said device comprising a paddle struc-' ture having a flat base, said paddle having a flat topped upwardly projecting smooth knob at one end thereof, the opposite end of the paddle comprising a handle portion to facilitate insertion of the knob portion of the paddle into a fabric garment to position the part of the garment to be patched directly over the knob for the application of a hot pressing iron thereon, the handle portion being sufficiently spaced from the knob so that manual manipulation of the paddle is not interfered with by the heat of the iron,- the paddle and the knob being each of a width substantially in excess of the height of the knob operation of adhering a plastic coated patch to a fabric garment by hot pressing the patch to the fabric, said device comprising a paddle structure, a flat top upwardly projecting smooth knob secured to the paddle structure at one end thereof, the opposite end of the paddle structure constituting a holding portion to facilitate insertion of the knob portion of the device into a fabric garment to position the part of the garment to be patched directly over the knob for the application of a hot pressing iron thereon, the hold ing portion of the device extending a sufiicient distance from the knob so that manual manipulation of the paddle structure is not interfered with by the heat of the iron, the knob having a groove extending around the periphery there'- of between the paddle structure and the top of the knob for receiving a holding means.

CHAS. PATASNIK. 

